Hardball In The Holy Land

Posted on: July 11th, 2007

I should have paid more attention in Hebrew School. I never knew I’d really be going to Israel. But then again, while I was daydreaming about baseball when I should have been paying attention, I was preparing myself for a career in sports public relations, and that’s what sent me to Israel, so I’m sure there are some Talmudic scholars out there who would see some biblical reason for this all coming together.

Hollywood Airbrushes Jihad

Posted on: July 11th, 2007

Hollywood has spawned a series of propaganda films all packaged as entertaining adventure stories replete with big budgets, big stars, bright colors and amazing technical effects.

An Unassuming Hero Who Made A Difference

Posted on: July 11th, 2007

Many Holocaust survivors did not know Abraham Klausner, a Reform rabbi who died last week at the age of 92, but he had a profound influence on those who lived in post-war Germany and Austria.

Nine Fallen Firefighters And The Shining Lesson They Left Us

Posted on: July 4th, 2007

I had never seen so many fire trucks in one place. It was Erev Shabbos, but this Friday was unlike like any other. Instead of running around town in preparation for Shabbos, I stopped my normal routine and found myself standing solemnly with the crowd of onlookers lining the sidewalks of Charleston, South Carolina. We watched silently as several hundred fire trucks from cities and counties across the country passed before us. This somber procession would escort the nine heroic fallen Charleston firefighters who earlier that week had died in the line of duty.

Strategic Folly And Shame: Personal Reflections On A Visit To Sderot

Posted on: July 4th, 2007

With Hamas now fully in control of Gaza, freely running guns and missiles through the Egyptian border (negating the need for tunnels), the missile barrages on southern Israel can be expected to increase.

Countering The Left’s Lies About Bush And Iraq

Posted on: July 4th, 2007

In short, to every act of war against the United States during the 1990’s, the Clinton-Gore response was limp-wristed and supine. And worse. By refusing to concede a lost presidential election, thereby breaking a hundred-year tradition, Gore delayed the transition to the new administration that would have to deal with the terrorist threat. As a result of the two-month delay, the comprehensive anti-terror plan that Bush ordered on taking office (the Clinton-Gore team had none) did not arrive on his desk until the day before the 9/11 attack.

Why ‘Land For Peace’ Doesn’t Work

Posted on: July 4th, 2007

In the aftermath of the Six-Day War, Israelis were convinced that peace with the Arabs was finally at hand. That thinking was based on the notion that the war had proven Israel’s invincible presence in the region. If Israel was unbeatable, they reasoned, what choice would the Arabs have other than to make peace?

Support The Boycott! End The Occupation!

Posted on: July 4th, 2007

We, Israeli professors for justice and peace, do hereby appeal to researchers, academics, scholars and teachers, in Israel and throughout the world, to take a firm and clear stand against the continuing occupation and denial of rights.

Recognizing Our Friends

Posted on: June 27th, 2007

In 1981, when Israel bombed the Iraqi nuclear reactor and was condemned for it by nearly the entire world, Pastor John Hagee decided he had to stand up for Israel. And he did. “A Night to Honor Israel” was born with the purpose of giving the Christian community an opportunity to demonstrate its love and support of Israel and the Jewish people.

We’re Not Doing Enough To Combat Our Adversaries

Posted on: June 27th, 2007

The cultural war between Islamic barbarism and Judeo-Christian civilization is raging even as Gaza and Sderot are under siege. The manipulation of propaganda is a key factor here. Britain – the country that turned Nazi-era European Jews back from Palestine’s shores – is now trying to boycott and isolate Israeli doctors, journalists, and university professors. The British Anglican Church, well-financed British-based NGOS (Christian Aid, World Vision, Amnesty International, etc.) and British academics have joined their voices to the Islamist-led jackal-chorus against Israel.

The Rupture: The Brotherhood, Gaza, Jihad

Posted on: June 27th, 2007

Until 1967, Gaza was part of Egypt. The Arabs who lived in Gaza considered themselves – get this – Egyptians. The Muslim Brotherhood was active and quite popular in Gaza – and outlawed by the Egyptian government.

Anti-Zionists Left And Right

Posted on: June 20th, 2007

What happens when the far Right collides with the hard Left? Will the universe explode? Will the laws of physics be distorted by some anti-Newtonian implosion of logic? No, they won’t. Not as long as the two ends of the spectrum are uniting to slam the Jews, that is.

The Young Refugee Rabbi Who Fought For Jewish Rescue

Posted on: June 20th, 2007

My father, Dr. Isaac Lewin, z”l, was 37 years old in January 1943 when B’nai B’rith held a conference in Pittsburgh to which it invited 34 national Jewish organizations. It announced that the purpose of the meeting was “to consider what steps should be taken to bring about some agreement on the part of the American Jewish community with respect to the post-war status of Jews and the upbuilding of a Jewish Palestine.”

God Bless America And God Save The Jews

Posted on: June 20th, 2007

This July 4th will be different for me, and all it took was a “sieg heil” and dozens of cautionary injunctions to walk only where it is safe.

Conversion To Judaism: A Discussion Of Standards

Posted on: June 20th, 2007

A recent Jewish Press editorial commented on an article I wrote for the Jerusalem Post calling for a reevaluation of the role of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate. The editorial provided an excerpt of my article, including my critique of the Chief Rabbinate’s extreme position on conversion to Judaism. It then raised an important question: why didn’t I entertain the need for a uniform standard? “We need to hear his [Rabbi Angel’s] views regarding the consequences of an absence of universal acceptance of halachic legitimacy…”

40 Years Later, Still Blind To Miracles

Posted on: June 15th, 2007

As the Jews were about to leave the desert to enter the Promised Land, Moses told them (Deut. 29. 1-8), “You have seen everything that God did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and all the slaves and to all his land…. But God did not give you a heart to know, or eyes to see, or ears to hear, until this day. I lead you forty years in the wilderness ... and you arrived at this place…”

Lament For A Once-Great Newspaper

Posted on: June 15th, 2007

The New York Times is special to me. Always has been, always will be. Over the years there were times I was critical of Times editorials, and on a few occasions of its news stories. Yet my day would not be complete if I had not read the Times.

Time To Give Chabad Its Due

Posted on: June 15th, 2007

Lately, I’ve been reading some very strange things in various Jewish media outlets about the history of kiruv (outreach) in America. I’ve had to read some of these articles several times over just to be certain my eyes weren’t deceiving me.

A Common-Sense Approach To Global Warming

Posted on: June 15th, 2007

It comes across as a classic Right-Left dispute. Liberals, led by Al Gore, claim global warming is due mainly to human activity and something must be done before it is too late. Conservatives question that and are quick to accuse the Left of scare tactics fueled by a desire to expand the powers of government. Yet if we put our emotions aside, reasonable discourse can take place and rational conclusions can be drawn.

The Fantastic Four’s Jewish Family Values

Posted on: June 13th, 2007

The summer wedding season is here, and even comic book characters are getting into the act.